NOTICE: This post was originally posted on Medium but has later been moved to the official World Of Card Games blog to consolidate all posts.
One of the most common features that people use at World of Card Games is the “private table” feature. Does this surprise you? I didn’t expect it when I first started running the site. I imagined the typical player was someone who really enjoyed a specific type of card game: Euchre, Double Deck Pinochle, Hearts, Spades, etc. Maybe they missed playing with their friends from the navy, or from college, or with relatives as they were growing up. They’d do an online search, find the site, and hop right in to play with complete strangers online. After all, it’s so easy to play, even without being registered (although there are some benefits to registering). But it does take a bit of courage to play with total strangers. Let’s face it, not everyone is so nice!
People who are pretty extroverted like that might never even realize there’s a private table feature at the site, unless they dig around for the information in the blog or in the FAQ.
Well, it turns out that a lot of people don’t enjoy playing with just any old stranger (imagine that!!). For them, I guess, the fun is not just about the game per se. A lot of the fun comes from the social contact with loved ones and friends — people that they know. They could do a Zoom call or Skype or FaceTime, but you can’t play cards together so well that way. No one is coordinating the deck of cards. Well, World of Card Games solves that problem. The site’s server (a big computer in the “cloud”) is basically a robotic dealer that keeps track of cards that are dealt and makes sure that everyone plays by the rules. And there’s a chat feature that lets you type in what you want to say while you play.
World of Card Games gives you the option of allowing turns that take up to 5 minutes at private tables, too. So you can chat away for quite a bit, if you like, while considering what to bid or which card to play. And you don’t have to worry about anyone kicking you under the table if you take too long for your turn.
If you know someone who used to play cards in person, but had to stop due to lack of mobility, or because their crowd of friends just doesn’t hang out together anymore, please let them know that they can play cards online with their friends using private tables at World of Card Games. The site’s not perfect for everyone, but it could be a way to get your games started up again within your social circle. I’ve had many emails from people telling me that they are so happy they found the site, and that they get together with a group on a regular basis for a game of cards and a fun chat with friends. Some people tell me they’ve been doing this for years! That’s pretty amazing, and I’m glad I’ve been able to help all these people by providing them with an online space to play cards.
